The Web site Remembering Our Dead indicates at least half a dozen trans Washingtonians have been murdered over the last decade. These include Stephanie Thomas and Ukea Davis, who were shot to death on Aug. 12, 2002, while they sat in their car in a Southeast intersection. Antoine Jacobs shot and killed popular entertainer Bella Evangelista on Aug. 16, 2003. And an unknown assailant bludgeoned Tyra Henderson to death in Northwest in April, 2000.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, maintains race and class remain a motivating factor behind the majority of anti-trans murders in Washington and elsewhere. "The kind of trans people getting murdered are not white, middle-aged transsexual women like me," she said. "It’s almost always lower income, trans-women of color. If you’re any of those things in the United States, you’re at the greatest risk of violence. It’s horrible."

The two stopped in a Giant supermarket at Ninth and O Streets, N.W., a man walking with a woman started an argument with Mack. According to Watson, the surviving victim believes the unidentified man singled out Mack because he perceived Mack as being transgendered. The surviving victim said she and Mack left the Giant store and continued walking in the direction of the THE offices. The man who started the argument at the Giant store apparently followed them, Watson reported the surviving witness as saying.

When Mack and the surviving victim reached the 200 block of Q Street, N.W., en route to the THE offices, an exchange of words between the man and Mack "escalated," the surviving witness told the THE client. A fight ensued and the man stabbed Mack and the other victim, according to the surviving witness's account.

Meanwhile: NaNa Boo's family says they knew NaNa was transgendered "and respected and loved her" and are pleading for witnesses to come forward. The Blade reports: "Beverlyn Mack struggled to hold back tears as she and a daughter and
son, who are Tyli'a Mack's siblings, spoke to reporters. 'I don't like it because my child
was born just like everyone else—through a mother's womb,' she said. 'And I don't think it's fair for other people to take other people's
lives.' "

A candlelight vigil will be held tonight to commemorate Mack's life at 6:30 p.m. on the 200 block of Q Street, N.W., at the site of the murder.

"One neighbor told FOX 5 they saw the two victims running from their attacker, and that one of them collapsed on the sidewalk. That victim later died. 'He said he couldn't breathe, "I can't breathe,"' said Frenzell Alexander, a neighbor. 'He came down 4th street and was gasping for breath and was bleeding from his neck.' Police announced that 21-year-old Joshua Mack of Clinton, Maryland was
pronounced dead at Howard University Hospital just after 3 p.m. Police say the attacker is an unknown man in his early 30s. He was last
seen wearing all black and running in the opposite direction on Q
Street. 'I'm a transgendered woman, too,' said Warrena Earls, another
resident. 'I know a lot of people in this city. I'm born and raised on
Q Street. Nothing like this ever happened.' "

"The stabbing happened around 2.50 p.m. local time, according to a police spokesman. One of the victims was taken to Howard University Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after. The second victim survived the attack, but his condition was not immediately known. A police spokesman said both victims were transgender males, but said there was no information yet on a suspect or motive."

Above, via Google Maps, a screen capture of the crime scene at the 200 block of Q Street Northwest.